Hello my friends,
I sure have not been keeping up on my blog lately. I have been so immersed and over my head with teaching my students, paperwork, scheduling, learning goals and "I can" statements....that I barely have time to breathe! Thanks to all my wonderful colleagues who have helped me on my adventure and my amazing mother.
I would like to write about my first few months in the classroom. The last time I blogged in September, I was definitely aware of the things I will do differently in the next year in regards to taking my time to set up students schedules instead of jumping right into working with students.
I have learned so much since September...and I feel like I understand my students so much better. It definitely takes a good month or so to build relationships with students and gain their trust. Now I feel like I am able to try some more creative teaching techniques with my students since we have our expectations set up. I have seen great gains and growth with some students, however, it is also frustrating to see students who have absolutely no support from their homes progress with a much slower pace due to factors out of their control.
I have been blessed to work with 5th grade students as well as middle school students with special needs. The IEP's are definitely a source of frustration at some points, because the way I see it, these are so very important and the basic "game plan" for the teachers to use to get these kiddos back in the general education classes (always our goal). I think this will get easier with time and experience.
Technology has been amazing in my district! My classroom has a mimeo board, lady bug and a clicker system that I am just trying out. I am finding some other wonderful sources such as bookshare.org (you can get a membership if you are an individual with a disability or if you teach individuals with disabilities...for free) where you download free books! I even downloaded "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" for one of my students, and the books are read aloud! I am trying this out with one of my students who is almost illiterate and it has given him a sense of independence and he is very proud when he writes his reader's response after reading a chapter. Thanks to a wonderful colleague, Wendy, I will be trying voice-thread, so he can record his responses online as well!
Within the past three months I have really realized the importance for students to feel proud of their work and have just started having them graph their progress with their goals. I also took pictures of them doing "on task" things such as using their multiplication charts to solve story problems, highlighting important information, etc....and I put them on our goal chart with "I can" statements. "I can use a highlighter to solve story problems." They seem proud of this, and I will refer to this throughout our lessons as an "appropriate behavior" example.
All in all...I've learned the following.....
- Inappropriate behaviors in the general education setting are set at zero tolerance, not at all like my self-contained EI experience....
- When there is an issue, take the student into the hall and sit cross-legged-style on the floor. May sound crazy, but it sure makes the kids calm and you don't feel as threatening them. Works for elementary.
- Experienced teachers are the best source of information.
- Take what you can from professional development and make it fit into your classroom and educational philosophy.
- My spark and love for those crazy kiddos is what will get me through years and years of teaching.
- Masking tape on the floor DOES keep students in their area, sometimes.
- When you need a breather....let the kids know. They will respond well.....be honest with them.
- SET HIGH EXPECTATIONS!!!
- It is almost impossible to leave school before 5:30pm each night.
- Let the students see you make mistakes. This makes you REAL to them!!
- Get those kiddos up and moving. They need to be involved.
- We all learn differently. Some of us NEED a white board and marker to solve math problems. White paper and lead is not always enough.
- Most behavior problems come from boredom, frustration or the teacher’s lack of classroom management! I see this in my classroom….
- When you don't know, ASK!!
- Social Skills are SO IMPORTANT!!
